City Council

CITY OF PELICAN RAPIDS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES-06-13-05 The City Council of the City of Pelican Rapids met in regular session at 5:30 p.m., Monday, 06-13-05, Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 N. Broadway. Mayor Wayne Runningen, Council Members Ben Woessner, David Gottenborg, John E. Waller, III, and Richard E. Peterson were present. No one was absent. Administrator Don Solga, Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert, Police Chief Scott Fox, Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier, John Gorton, Ron Greene, Ken Rittmueller, Chris Greene and Tom Hintgen of the Pelican Press were also present. Meeting called to order by Mayor Runningen. Items added to the agenda: Clarify VFW Charitable Gambling Permit and Lagoon. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to approve the minutes of 05-09-05, 05-13- 05 and 06-02-05 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Council discussed Accounts Payable Listing of 06-13-05. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to approve the Accounts Payable Listing of 06-13-05 as presented. Motion includes of the Library bills of 06-07-05, approved by Library Board Member Gary Lage. Motion passed unanimously. Police Chief Scott Fox discussed the Police Department Report. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier presented his report on well head protection plan, pretreatment for wastewater treatment facility and semi-annual and annual electrical service to electrical panels and problems with grit system. Ken Rittmueller of the Pelican Motel was present to discuss the odor from the lagoon. Rittmueller says the odor has become worse through the eight years he has had the motel. He feels the smell is damaging to his health and his business. He has lost customers due to the smell and he has lost two potential buyers for the motel due to the odor. He also is concerned about the pollutants that may be present. He said we are dependent on tourist dollars and we have to do something. Mayor Runningen said the strength of the discharge to the lagoon increased when West Central Turkeys discontinued the kill line and reduced the amount of water mixed with the discharge. Rittmueller asked about simply adding water to the lagoon to reduce the smell. Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier explained the steps the City has taken to address the smell. Administrator Solga said the City is investigating getting water up to the lagoon. Mayor Runningen said it is a biological and chemical process so the City has to be careful that the process doesn’t affect compliance at the wastewater facility. Chris Greene asked if the problem was continuing because it only affected a few people, but Council Members said it is a big concern. Mayor Runningen said the City wants to do the right thing and fix it because the smell has gotten worse. Mayor Runningen said all the city lagoons are operating under a permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). MPCA has been in town, but they don’t have any solutions to the problem. Rittmueller requested that the City Council establish a committee so “we can keep on this thing and get it cured.” Chris Greene said company to her house identifies the smell and it makes her eyes water. Mayor Runningen said he appreciated their coming and their comments. City Administrator Don Solga and Utilities Superintendent Brent E. Frazier will work with engineers and other consultants to come up with possible solutions and report back to City Council. John Gorton of the Pelican Rapids Jaycees presented the Jaycees request for a Temporary Beer License to conduct a Beer Garden on 07-09-05, as part of the Turkey Days Festival. Jaycees provided a list of rules and regulations they will follow in operating the Beer Garden in addition to providing required liability insurance and additional law enforcement personnel providing security. Motion by Waller, seconded by Peterson to approve a Temporary Malt Liquor License for 07- 09-05, to the Pelican Rapids Jaycees, subject to receipt of liquor liability insurance. Motion passed unanimously. Administrator Don Solga provided Superintendent Tom Soberg’s report on the street and park departments. Solga said that Superintendent Soberg has submitted his resignation as Street and Park Superintendent, effective 06-17-05. Motion by Gottenborg, seconded by Waller to accept the resignation of Street and Park Superintendent Tom Soberg. Mayor Runningen said he would like to add that the City appreciates and thanks Tom for his years of service. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Peterson to advertise the open position of Street and Park Superintendent in the Pelican Rapids Press, The Forum newspaper and web site, the Minnesota Jobs Bank and the League of Minnesota Cities Bulletin and web site. Motion passed unanimously. Council Member Woessner asked why the street sweeper isn’t accomplishing the job. “It’s costing us a lot of money to do the work twice or three times.” He said. He requested that the City move the street sweeper up on the replacement schedule. Council Member Peterson said it works better after a rain, but on a dry day it isn’t picking up. The factory rep said the City’s expectations were too high. Administrator Don Solga will review the Equipment Replacement Schedule as part of the 2006 Budget preparation. Clerk-Treasurer Glenys Ehlert presented the May financial reports. She also reported on the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Conference she recently attended in St. Paul. Ehlert commended staff member Julie Lammers for completing IIMC certification requirements. Council Members were advised that the Bond Sale for Improvement Project No. 70 will be acted on at the 06-28-05 Council meeting. Administrator Don Solga said he expects the land sale to Egge’s to be final about 06-15-05. He said the City budgeted $7500 for railings around the dam. However, the railing needs to be extended further than anticipated and along the steps. Solga recommended that approximately $8,000 of the proceeds from the land sale be used for the additional railings around the Mill Pond Dam. Mayor Runningen said he has had concerns about the liability issues in the area. Motion by Peterson, seconded by Waller to accept Solga’s recommendation and approve payment for additional Mill Pond Dam railings from Egge land sale proceeds. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to confirm the Charitable Gambling License issued to the VFW Gilmore Weik Post 5252 to permit a charitable gambling operation on the premises at 26 1st Avenue NW in the City of Pelican Rapids for the term of one year, beginning 01-01-05. The Minnesota Gambling Control Board requested this confirmation. Motion passed unanimously. Council Member Peterson discussed the need for a new hangar at the airport. The City is on the list for a loan for March 2008. The state will participate with a 50% grant for site prep as long as the City owns the building. Peterson would like to investigate the possibility of building a hangar on a lease purchase agreement. Motion by Waller, seconded by Woessner to authorize Council Member Richard Peterson to check into building a hangar using a lease purchase agreement. Motion passed unanimously. The Economic Development Authority, Economic Development Corporation and West Central Initiative Fund will hold a joint meeting at City Hall on 06-20-05 at 7:00 p.m. Council discussed the lagoon. Council Member Peterson said we have to take care of the odor even if we have to raise sewer rates. Motion by Woessner, seconded by Waller to authorize a study of lagoon performance. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Glenys Ehlert, CMC Clerk-Treasurer